James knocked lightly on the door, a grin playing at the corner of his lips. His sister Lillian, with her sharp gaze and an almost always serious expression, would never take him seriously. But today, he had a plan that just might make her give in. He raised his eyebrows, pleading silently.
Lillian Calloway opened the door, her eyes narrowing as she saw him standing there, holding his hands together like a puppy asking for a treat. "What are you doing here, again?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
James let out a dramatic sigh, dropping to his knees in mock despair. "Lilly, please," he said, looking up at her with the most innocent, pleading expression he could muster. "I need your help. You're the only one I trust with this." He flashed his puppy eyes, using his best combination of charm and desperation.
Lillian rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You know, I can't keep helping you with every little thing. I'm a city attorney, James, not your personal legal assistant."
James pouted, pushing it just a little more. "Come on, Lilly! You're the best at this. I need your expertise... and your legal genius. Please."
She hesitated, her lips twitching as she fought back a smile. There was something in the way he said it, something earnest behind the cheeky façade. "What's the favor this time?" she finally asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"I need you to help me set up a new company. Something big. I'm calling it Aurora Capital LLC, and I want you to draft all the paperwork. I need you, Lilly. You're the best in the business, and... well, you're my sister," he added with a sheepish grin.
Lillian sighed, but this time it was softer, less annoyed. She uncrossed her arms and stepped aside, letting him in. "Aurora Capital, huh? What's this all about? Another one of your grand schemes?" Her voice was light, teasing. But there was a thread of concern behind it.
James grinned wider. "You know me. Always thinking big."
"I can see that," she muttered, shaking her head but clearly softening. She glanced at her papers on the desk before turning back to him. "So, what exactly do you need me for? I can't just set up an LLC for you, you know. There's paperwork, contracts, tax forms—"
"I know, I know," he interrupted, waving his hands dismissively. "I need you to be my personal lawyer, Lilly. This isn't just any startup. DoubleClick is growing, and I'm expanding. I need someone I trust to handle all the legal stuff, and who better than you?"
She studied him carefully, her gaze flicking to his intense expression. He wasn't joking. There was something serious behind those puppy eyes. "Alright, alright," she said, finally relenting. "I'll help you with the paperwork for the LLC, but I want you to make it clear that I'm not bailing you out of any messes you get yourself into."
"Deal," James said, relief flooding him. "And, you'll be my lawyer, right? Full time?"
Lillian gave him a skeptical look. "We'll see. I have a job, remember? San Francisco City Attorney isn't exactly a side gig."
"I know, I know. But think about it, Lilly. You'd be helping me build something... something huge." He leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to a more sincere, almost pleading one. "I need you."
Lillian paused, the weight of his words lingering in the air. She shook her head with a quiet laugh. "You're unbelievable," she muttered, but there was a warmth in her voice now. "Alright, I'll help. But don't expect me to make things easy for you. This isn't some weekend hobby. You've got yourself a company now."
James grinned, feeling a little more secure. "Perfect. Now, let's get this show on the road."
After finalizing the paperwork and securing Lillian's promise to be his personal lawyer, James made his way to the first bank on his list: Citibank, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco. He had hoped for a straightforward meeting, but the moment he stepped inside, he could tell that the bank manager's attitude wasn't exactly warm.
Citibank had always been a bit wary of tech ventures, especially a fledgling startup in the world of digital advertising. They had a few doubts about the value of DoubleClick's mortgage assets, and the manager's cold, professional demeanor confirmed their suspicions.
"Mr. Calloway," the senior officer said, barely looking up from his paperwork, "We can offer you a loan, but the amount will be limited. We'll need to secure nearly half of your company's equity as collateral."
James raised an eyebrow. "Half? And the interest rate?"
The officer didn't flinch. "It's high, given the risk. We're not comfortable offering more than $800,000 under these terms."
Lillian leaned over slightly, her eyes calculating as she whispered to James, "They're not convinced. Maybe we should look elsewhere."
James nodded. "I agree."
After thanking Citibank for their time, James and Lillian visited First Interstate Bank, Bank of America, and Union Bank of California. The responses were generally the same: hesitant, unsure, and unwilling to offer anything more than a fraction of what James needed.
It wasn't until they walked into Wells Fargo that things began to take a turn for the better. The moment they entered the lobby, they were greeted by a man in his early forties, wearing a crisp suit and a confident smile.
"Mr. Calloway! Miss Calloway!" he called out enthusiastically, stepping forward. "I'm Christopher Jainise — call me Chris — credit manager here at Wells Fargo. I saw your recent news —what an incredible rise you've had! The tech world's been buzzing about you."
James couldn't help but smile, feeling the warmth in Chris's greeting. It was a stark contrast to the cold reception they'd received at other banks.
"Thank you, Chris," James replied, extending his hand. "It's been a crazy few months."
Chris clapped his hands together, a signal to his assistant, who brought them coffee. "Wells Fargo's excited to be working with a company with such potential. DoubleClick's got a future, that's for sure."
Lillian exchanged a look with James, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. Chris didn't seem like the typical banker at all. He was almost too enthusiastic.
After some small talk, the real negotiation began. Chris leaned forward, his tone becoming more serious. "We're prepared to offer you a loan, Mr. Calloway. One million dollars to start, with a two-month interest-free period. We'll only require 20% of your company's equity as collateral."
James raised an eyebrow, impressed. "And what's the catch?"
Chris grinned. "No catch, but I'd like to suggest a... partnership of sorts. If DoubleClick thrives, we'll thrive together. I'd like to make sure your capital turnover goes through Wells Fargo from here on out. Think of it as an investment in your future—and ours."
Lillian's sharp lawyer instincts kicked in. She eyed Chris carefully, sensing there was more to the deal than met the eye. But James, always the optimist, nodded.
"Deal," James said, shaking Chris's hand firmly. "We're in."
As they left Wells Fargo, the weight of the deal hung in the air. James and Lillian didn't speak much on the drive back, but the quiet was comfortable. Lillian glanced over at James, who was lost in thought, and for the first time, she saw him not just as her little brother, but as a peer. Someone with ambition, vision, and the drive to turn it all into something real.
Later that evening, after a long day, James sat in the garage where he'd started it all. The place still looked humble, filled with boxes and old furniture, but he knew it wouldn't stay this way for long.
Lillian, sitting across from him, was reviewing the legal documents on her laptop, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. The exhaustion was evident on both of their faces, but so was something else—respect. Not just as family, but as partners in this new world they were stepping into together.
"You know," Lillian said after a moment, breaking the silence, "you're not just my little brother anymore."
James turned to look at her, his eyes tired but full of determination. "Yeah, I know."
"Don't think I'm going easy on you," she warned, her voice soft but firm. "But I'll be here. For now, and for whatever comes next."
James smiled, letting his exhaustion take over as he reclined in his chair. "Thanks, Lilly. I couldn't do it without you."
She looked down at the papers in front of her, but the smile she gave him was one of pride, one of someone realizing they weren't just standing on the sidelines anymore.
"Sleep well, big brother," she murmured, though there was a hint of something else in her voice—a quiet acknowledgment that this was only the beginning.
As James drifted into sleep, his sister continued to work, her mind running through the complexities of the deals ahead. Little did she know, this was the moment everything would change—not just for DoubleClick, but for both of them.